That the Parliament congratulates Mr Chef, a takeaway based in Craigneuk, Wishaw, on being named Scotland’s Best Takeaway at the British Takeaway Awards; commends the owner, Wasim Arshad, the supervisor, Robert Hayes, and all of the team at Mr Chef on their wonderful success; understands that Mr Chef beat stiff competition from across the UK, including three takeaways in Hamilton that also reached the final; notes that this is the third consecutive year that the takeaway has been in the running for the top award and that it was also placed within the top ten takeaways across the UK; commends the team at Mr Chef for all of their efforts, and wishes everyone involved the very best for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Mr Chef, a takeaway based in Craigneuk, Wishaw, on being named Scotland’s Best Takeaway at the British Takeaway Awards; commends the owner, Wasim Arshad, the supervisor, Robert Hayes, and all of the team at Mr Chef on their wonderful success; understands that Mr Chef beat stiff competition from across the UK, including three takeaways in Hamilton that also reached the final; notes that this is the third consecutive year that the takeaway has been in the running for the top award and that it was also placed within the top ten takeaways across the UK; commends the team at Mr Chef for all of their efforts, and wishes everyone involved the very best for the future.

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of a new report by the charity, Electrical Safety First (ESF), which suggests that the majority of counterfeit or lookalike Apple chargers available in the UK have potential to deliver lethal electrical shock and fire; understands that this is the first study of its kind and was carried out with support from Apple; believes that a series of safety tests on counterfeit and lookalike iPhone chargers were conducted, including 50 purchased in the UK, with 98% of the chargers tested shown to have the potential to deliver lethal electric shock and/or cause a fire; understands that they were sourced from a variety of online marketplaces, independent discount stores and market stalls; notes that ESF is calling on online marketplaces and social media companies to strengthen their efforts in preventing the sale of counterfeit or lookalike electrical goods; urges people to take care when buying such products and recommends buying directly from trusted retailers only; encourages anyone in doubt to contact their local trading standards office and to visit ESF's website, electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk for advice and tips on spotting fake electrical items; recognises that the holiday period can create additional electrical dangers in the home, and wishes everyone a safe and safety-conscious festive period.

That the Parliament welcomes the publication of a new report by the charity, Electrical Safety First (ESF), which suggests that the majority of counterfeit or lookalike Apple chargers available in the UK have potential to deliver lethal electrical shock and fire; understands that this is the first study of its kind and was carried out with support from Apple; believes that a series of safety tests on counterfeit and lookalike iPhone chargers were conducted, including 50 purchased in the UK, with 98% of the chargers tested shown to have the potential to deliver lethal electric shock and/or cause a fire; understands that they were sourced from a variety of online marketplaces, independent discount stores and market stalls; notes that ESF is calling on online marketplaces and social media companies to strengthen their efforts in preventing the sale of counterfeit or lookalike electrical goods; urges people to take care when buying such products and recommends buying directly from trusted retailers only; encourages anyone in doubt to contact their local trading standards office and to visit ESF's website, electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk for advice and tips on spotting fake electrical items; recognises that the holiday period can create additional electrical dangers in the home, and wishes everyone a safe and safety-conscious festive period.

That the Parliament applauds Shanaz Qaisar from Motherwell on raising funds for Myanmar; notes that Shanaz raised over £10,000 in September 2017 with the help of her family and friends by hosting a coffee morning and an auction at her family home in Motherwell; further notes that Shanaz donated the funds through the World Care Foundation, a grassroots, volunteer-led humanitarian charity that has a 100% donation policy, and wishes Shanaz and her family and friends the very best with all future endeavours.

That the Parliament applauds Shanaz Qaisar from Motherwell on raising funds for Myanmar; notes that Shanaz raised over £10,000 in September 2017 with the help of her family and friends by hosting a coffee morning and an auction at her family home in Motherwell; further notes that Shanaz donated the funds through the World Care Foundation, a grassroots, volunteer-led humanitarian charity that has a 100% donation policy, and wishes Shanaz and her family and friends the very best with all future endeavours.

That the Parliament congratulates Airbles Crafty Club in Motherwell on receiving £7,650 from the Big Lottery Fund; notes that the club will use the grant to develop its arts and crafts project within Airbles Tower for residents and the wider community; further notes that the group will also take members on two trips to craft fayres, and wishes everyone involved all the very best.

That the Parliament congratulates Airbles Crafty Club in Motherwell on receiving £7,650 from the Big Lottery Fund; notes that the club will use the grant to develop its arts and crafts project within Airbles Tower for residents and the wider community; further notes that the group will also take members on two trips to craft fayres, and wishes everyone involved all the very best.

That the Parliament congratulates Newmains Hammers 2003 on receiving £2,000 from the Big Lottery Fund; understands that Newmains Hammers 2003 works with local children and provides them with a forum to express themselves in a safe football environment; notes that the grant will go towards taking the team of 17 children and four volunteer coaches to a football tournament in England, and wishes Newmains Hammers 2003 all the very best.

That the Parliament congratulates Newmains Hammers 2003 on receiving £2,000 from the Big Lottery Fund; understands that Newmains Hammers 2003 works with local children and provides them with a forum to express themselves in a safe football environment; notes that the grant will go towards taking the team of 17 children and four volunteer coaches to a football tournament in England, and wishes Newmains Hammers 2003 all the very best.

That the Parliament sends its best wishes to Alice Oates from Craigneuk who, in October 2017, celebrated her 103rd birthday; notes that Alice was born and brought up in Craigneuk and moved to Pather after marrying her late husband, James, in 1939; further notes that Alice lived at their family home in Pather until moving to Beechwood Care Home in Wishaw in March 2017; understands that she worked as a bus conductress in her younger years and later as a home help, providing support to people in the community who needed help with day-to-day tasks due to an illness or disability; recognises that Alice celebrated her 103rd birthday with family and staff at Beechwood Care Home; celebrates Alice’s remarkable life, and wishes her and her family all the best for the future.

That the Parliament sends its best wishes to Alice Oates from Craigneuk who, in October 2017, celebrated her 103rd birthday; notes that Alice was born and brought up in Craigneuk and moved to Pather after marrying her late husband, James, in 1939; further notes that Alice lived at their family home in Pather until moving to Beechwood Care Home in Wishaw in March 2017; understands that she worked as a bus conductress in her younger years and later as a home help, providing support to people in the community who needed help with day-to-day tasks due to an illness or disability; recognises that Alice celebrated her 103rd birthday with family and staff at Beechwood Care Home; celebrates Alice’s remarkable life, and wishes her and her family all the best for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates The Hub Linedancers Group on being awarded £1,500 from the Big Lottery Fund; notes that The Hub Linedancers Group is based in Newmains and meets at the NCT Centre to provide social and recreational opportunities for members through line dancing; recognises that the grant will allow the group to extend its stage to deliver larger scale events and activities, as well as fund transport costs for a weekend dancing workshop, and wishes The Hub Linedancers Group all the very best.

That the Parliament congratulates The Hub Linedancers Group on being awarded £1,500 from the Big Lottery Fund; notes that The Hub Linedancers Group is based in Newmains and meets at the NCT Centre to provide social and recreational opportunities for members through line dancing; recognises that the grant will allow the group to extend its stage to deliver larger scale events and activities, as well as fund transport costs for a weekend dancing workshop, and wishes The Hub Linedancers Group all the very best.

That the Parliament commends NHS Lanarkshire nurses from Wishaw General Hospital; understands that the dedicated group of nurses known as Team Wishaw ED are teaching young children how to perform CPR with their favourite teddy bears and other soft toys; notes that Team Wishaw ED devotes its time to teach the classes, and that it started its project in April 2017 and has taught CPR in eight Lanarkshire primary schools since then, and has another 13 schools lined up for a visit; further notes that the nurses are finalists in the Community First Aid Champion Award in the St Andrews Scottish First Aid Awards; recognises that Team Wishaw ED is made up of charge nurses, Fiona Torrance and Michelle Graham, and staff nurses, Caroline Casey, Fiona Macpherson and Laura Gillies, and wishes Team Wishaw ED the best of luck with the St Andrews Scottish First Aid Awards and in its future endeavours.

That the Parliament commends NHS Lanarkshire nurses from Wishaw General Hospital; understands that the dedicated group of nurses known as Team Wishaw ED are teaching young children how to perform CPR with their favourite teddy bears and other soft toys; notes that Team Wishaw ED devotes its time to teach the classes, and that it started its project in April 2017 and has taught CPR in eight Lanarkshire primary schools since then, and has another 13 schools lined up for a visit; further notes that the nurses are finalists in the Community First Aid Champion Award in the St Andrews Scottish First Aid Awards; recognises that Team Wishaw ED is made up of charge nurses, Fiona Torrance and Michelle Graham, and staff nurses, Caroline Casey, Fiona Macpherson and Laura Gillies, and wishes Team Wishaw ED the best of luck with the St Andrews Scottish First Aid Awards and in its future endeavours.

That the Parliament congratulates NHS Lanarkshire staff on promoting infection prevention and control (IPC) awareness; understands that staff are promoting key IPC messages, such as good hand hygiene, through a mini "soap"; further understands that the team will be releasing two or three short films over the next six weeks, which are targeted at patients, the public and NHS staff, and that the first short film was released on 30 October 2017 and has already received thousands of viewings, and wishes NHS Lanarkshire staff all the very best with future endeavours.

That the Parliament congratulates NHS Lanarkshire staff on promoting infection prevention and control (IPC) awareness; understands that staff are promoting key IPC messages, such as good hand hygiene, through a mini "soap"; further understands that the team will be releasing two or three short films over the next six weeks, which are targeted at patients, the public and NHS staff, and that the first short film was released on 30 October 2017 and has already received thousands of viewings, and wishes NHS Lanarkshire staff all the very best with future endeavours.

That the Parliament congratulates Alba Photographic Society on being awarded £2,000 from the Big Lottery Fund; notes that the society is based in Netherton Community Centre; understands that the funding will allow the group to buy a range of new equipment and deliver tuition in cameras and software for beginners, and wishes Alba Photographic Society all the very best for the future.

That the Parliament congratulates Alba Photographic Society on being awarded £2,000 from the Big Lottery Fund; notes that the society is based in Netherton Community Centre; understands that the funding will allow the group to buy a range of new equipment and deliver tuition in cameras and software for beginners, and wishes Alba Photographic Society all the very best for the future.

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent comments by the Lord Advocate, what role community payback and direct reparation with victims of crime will play in its future plans for the justice system.

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 20/09/2017

To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the recent comments by the Lord Advocate, what role community payback and direct reparation with victims of crime will play in its future plans for the justice system.

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that products covered by the Conformité Européenne, or CE, mark that are manufactured or sold in Scotland will continue to meet such standards post-Brexit.

Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 15/06/2017

To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that products covered by the Conformité Européenne, or CE, mark that are manufactured or sold in Scotland will continue to meet such standards post-Brexit.

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that North Lanarkshire Council is planning to reduce its number of classroom assistants and breakfast clubs.

Answered byJohn Swinney
(06/06/2017):

I am very disappointed to learn of North Lanarkshire’s decision to reduce its number of classroom assistants and breakfast clubs.

Education authorities have duties under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 to identify, provide for and review the additional support needs of their pupils. All authorities must ensure that they have appropriate resources in place to meet their statutory requirements, including meeting the individual needs of children and young people.

Current Status: Answered by John Swinney on 06/06/2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to reports that North Lanarkshire Council is planning to reduce its number of classroom assistants and breakfast clubs.

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the UK Government's recently published document, Consultation response - Exceptions to the limiting of the individual Child Element of Child Tax Credit and the Child Element of Universal Credit to a maximum of two children.

Answered byJeane Freeman
(01/02/2017):

The Scottish Government is fundamentally opposed to this policy which will have a devastating impact on low income families in Scotland. Latest published estimates are that this policy will cut UK Welfare spend by a further 1.6 billion by 2020-21. DWP’s own impact assessment found that more than 600,000 families will receive a lower entitlement by 2020-21 and, once the policy is fully rolled out, this figure will rise to 3.7 million. We have raised our concerns direct with UK Government Ministers and it is disgraceful that they have has chosen to ignore the serious concerns raised by the public and many other stakeholders.

Current Status: Answered by Jeane Freeman on 01/02/2017

To ask the Scottish Government what its response is to the UK Government's recently published document, Consultation response - Exceptions to the limiting of the individual Child Element of Child Tax Credit and the Child Element of Universal Credit to a maximum of two children.